Machine for molding soles onto shoe bottoms



Nov. 3, 1964 D. c. FAGAN ETAL MACHINE FOR MOLDING SOLES ONTO SHOE BOTTOMS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 17, 1961 In ven fora Denis C. Pagan Cym'Z [7. James By ZFzeir Azzorney Nov. 3, 1964 D. c. FAGAN ETAL MACHINE FOR MOLDING SOLES ONTO SHOE BO Filed Oct. 17, 1961 TTOMS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 I 1] III.

l i y Nov. 3, 1964 D. c. FAGAN ETAL MACHINE FOR MOLDING SOLES ONTO SHOE BOTTOMS Filed on. 17, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 United States Patent 3,154,813 MACHINE M'ftLuiNG SGLES GNTQ HGE BSTIUMS Charles Pagan and Cyril Harry ames, both of Leicester, England, assignors to il'nited Shoe Machinery Corporation, Flemingtcn, N..l., a corporation of New Jersey Ffied Get. 17 196i, Ser. No. 154,913 2 Claims. (til. 1S-17) This invention relates to machines for molding soles onto shoe bottoms and is herein illustrated in its application to machines for molding soles onto the bottoms of shoe uppers while they are still on the making last. The invention is herein illustrated in its application to machines such, for example, as that illustrated in United States Letters Patent No. 3,058,152, granted October 16, 1962, in the names of Eldred and Frampton.

The machine illustrated in the Eldred et al. Patent is equipped with metal shoe forms for receiving lasted shoe uppers onto which soles are to be vulcanized. In the bottoming of shoes in machines of this type it is the usual practice to shape the upper on a wooden or making last and thereafter to remove the upper from the wooden last and mount it on a metal shoe form in the sole vulcan ling machine. Upon the completion of the sole vulcanizing operation the shoe is removed from the metal form and in most cases it is again mounted on the making last for the performance of finishing operations and for supporting the shoe as it sets to its final shape. While machines of this type have proved generally satisfactory in operation, the cost of the metal foot forms is high and the labor cost involved in transferring the upper from the making last to the shoe form and back to the making last is a substantial item in the cost of manufacture of the shoe.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide in a machine of the type above referred to means for supporting in the machine a shoe upper on its making last for the molding of an outsole thereon.

it is a further object of the invention to provide, in a two station machine of the type above referred to, a simple and convenient m ans for applying clamping pressure to a shoe and its last in each station of the machine thereby to hold it against the sole molding or vulcanizing pressure.

With the above object in view the present invention contemplates the provision in a two station machine for bottoming shoes mounted on their lasts of pressure means in each station comprising a toe presscr foot and a heel presser foot. Each pressure means is mounted in a carrier which itself is supported by a suitable pressure head which is actuated to advance the pressure means in each station to a predetermined intermediate position. The pressure heads are mounted on parallel shafts which are secured to a crosshead common to the two stations of the machine and a piston and cylinder assembly is provided for actuating the crossnead to advance the pressure heads in unison to their intermediate position. In their intermediate position the pressure means is conveniently located for the operation of a wedge mechanism which advances the pressure means to cause the application of uniform pressure to the shoes in the two stations of the machine. The wedge in each station is arrange to effect the application of pressure to the pressure means and a piston and cylinder assembly connnon to the two stations is arranged to actuate the wedges.

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the a pended claims.

In the drawings:

PEG. 1 is a front elevation illustrating a machine ernbodying the features of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged plan view illustrating features of the machine shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a section taken on the line illlil of FIG. 1, the scale of FIG. 3 being somewhat greater than the scale of FIG. 2.

The invention is illustrated in the drawings as embodied in a machine of the type illustrated in the Eldred et a1. patent hereinbefore referred to. This is a twostation machine having in each station side mold members iii and i2 and a bottom mold member 14. The side mold members are mounted for movement toward and from each other. In their closed position illustrated in FIG. 2 the side mold members cooperate with the bottom mold member to provide mold cavities which receive charges from which soles are molded onto the bottoms of lasted shoe uppers, the side molds defining the peripheral contour and the bottom mold the profile contour of the molded sole. After the molds have been closed and a suitable charge has been inserted into each mold cavity a shoe 16 mounted on its making last 18 is brought into its mold closing position illustrated in FIG. 3. identical last supporting means are provided in the two stations of the machine and it will be understood that the following description of the last supporting means in the right-hand station applies equally well to the last supporting means in the other station. in the operation of the machine the shoe is brought into a position above and in registration with the bottom mold member 1 and then is moved downwardly into a position in which it is supported by the closed side mold members 1% and 12, the position of the shoe being determined by toe and heel gages mounted on the side mold members. Referring to FIG. 2, each toe end gage comprises two plates 2 and 22 secured, respectively, to the side mold members 10' and i2 and arranged to provide a substantially ll-shaped abutment, when the side mold members are closed, against which the toe end portion of the shoe is positioned. The plates 2% and 22 are secured to their respective side mold members by screws 24 extending through slots 26 formed in the plates. The slots afford suiiicient adjustment of the plates iii and 22 for different types of shoes. The position of the heel portion of the shoe relative to the mold cavity is determined by gage members comprising arms 28 and 3t pivotally mounted, respectively, on the side mold members ill and 12 and urged toewardly by springs 32 and 34 into engagement with stop pins 36 and 38. Fixed to the arms 28 and 3d are blocks iii and 32, respectively, said blocks being arranged in the closed position of the side mold members to engage 0pposite sides of the heel end portion of the shoe. The arms 28 and 30 are pivotally mounted to swing in unison to and from the mold cavity, the arm 28 being fulcrumed on an upstanding pin 44 in the side mold member 18 and the arm 30 being fulcrumed on a pin as upstand ng in the mold member 12. The free end of the arm 2?: has an open ended slot 48 which receives a pin 55) in the free end portion of the arm 3f: when the side mold members are advanced into their closed position illustrated in FIG. 2. The pin and slot connection between the two arms causes the blocks 4% and 42 to move in unison toward and from the mold cavity. In positioning a shoe relatively to the side mold members the operator brings the heel end portion of the upper to bear against the blocks 4 and 42 and moves the shoe heelwardly against the tension of the springs 32 and 34- until the toe portion of the upper is in position to move downwardly into registration with the plates 21; and 22 whereupon the shoe is permitted to advance toewardly under the tension of the springs 32 and 3d into engagement with the plates 2% and 22. The pins 44- and 46 are so located relatively to the mold cavity that the movement of the blocks 49 and .2; during the shoe locating operation is substantially rectilinear, thus obviating any considerable abrasion of the shoe by'the blocks 49 and 42. During the opening movement of the mold members the slot 48 is disposed substantially Widthwise of the mold cavity and the pin Sill moves freely from the slot. Similarly, during the closing movement of the mold members the pin is in substantial registration with the slot and advances into the slot during the last part of the mold closing movement.

Referring to PEG. 1, the illustrated machine is provided in each station with an arched pressure head, the pressure head in the right-hand station being identified by the numeral 52. The pressure heads descend simultaneously preparatory to the sole molding operation. The pressure head 52 is mounted at the upper portions of parallel vertical shafts 54 slidably mounted in cylindrical standards 56 upstanding on a table 53. The pressure heads are moved downwardly by air pressure in a cylinder 6% acting against a piston 62. Referring to PlG. 3, the pressure head 52 carries means for applying pressure to the shoe. The illustrated clamping means comprises a carrier in the form of a cross head 64 having secured thereto and upstanding thereon a shaft 66 slidably. mounted in a vertical bore in the pressure head 52. A cap at the upper end of the shaft 66 limits downward movement of the shaft in the pressure head. A pair of lugs 79 depending from the cross head 64 provide a fulcrum for a rocker arm 72 which carries a toe presser foot illustrated as a toe pad 74 and a heel presser foot illustrated as a permanent magnet 76 arranged to engage a steel plate 78 on the heel portion of the last The operation of the pressure head advances the toe pad 74 and magnet 75 into engagement with the toe portion of the shoe 16 and the steel plate 78, respectively. The toe pad 74 is articulated for limited rocking movement in a head 89 slidably mounted in a T-way inthe lower portion of a bar 52 adjustably mounted in an arm 84 depending from the rocker arm 72. The magnet 76 is pivotally mounted on a cross pin 86 in the lower portion of an arm 83 depending from the rocker.

arm 72. During the operation of the pressure head 52 the rocker arm 72 rocks to accommodate the toe pad 7- 3- and the magnet 76 to the contour of the last. The toe pad 74 may be adjusted angularly to suit the angular dispostion of the toe portion of the last.

In order to accommodate lasts of various sizes and shapes the toe pad 74 and the heel magnet 75 are pro- Vided with mounting means constructed and arranged for adjustment heightwise and lengthwise of the shoe 16. inasmuch as the mechanism for mounting the toe pad is essentially the same as the mechanism for mounting the heel magnet the following description of the former will sufiice for the latter. Extending upwardly from the bar 82 is a cylindrical shank 9% which is slidably mounted in a bore in the arm 84. For securing the shank 9! in any one of a plurality of positions relatively to the arm 8 a set screw 92 is mounted in the arm 54 and arranged to be seated in any one of a plurality of sockets provided in the shank 93. To provide for horizontal adjustment of the toe pad the arm 84 has a T-head 94 slidably mounted in a T-way formed in and extending longitudinally of a depending section 9d of the 1 rocker arm 72. For 'yieldingly holding the Th ead inadjusted position the rocker arm 72 carries a spring pressed latch member (not shown) movable through a bore in the arm into any one of a series of sockets formed in the T-head 9 4, one ofsaid sockets being identified in' 1 tions of the spring H92. are spacedfrorn the rocker arm arranged to bear against abutment screws 194 mounted in opposite end portions of the cross head 64 and arranged to bear against opposite end por tions of the spring 1&2. The toe pad 74 and the heel magnet 76 may be relatively adjusted vertically to accommodate different last contours by suitable adjustments of the two abutment screws. The spring 102 permits freedom of rocking movement of the rocker arm 72 sufficient to effect a balance between the pressure of the toe pad 7d and the heel magnet 7 in the operation of the illustrated'machine the piston 62 is operated to move the pressure head 52 downwardly. During the first stage of the downward movement of the pressure head the toe pad 74 and the magnet 76 move downwardly with the pressure head until they come into engagement, respectively, with the shoe 16 and the plate 78 on the heel portion of the last. During its continued downward movement the pressure head 52 moves downwardly relatively to the shaft 6% until it engages the upper extremities of the standards 56. Thereupon pressure is applied to the toe pad 74 and the magnet 76 by the o eration of a piston lit) (FIG. 2) mounted in a cylinder 112, the piston and cylinder being positioned between the two stations of the machine and a ranged to operate simultaneously on a pressure applying wedge in each station. The wedge Hi8 is slidably mounted for movement lengthwise of the shoe on a pair of parallel plates 114 (FIG. 3) secured to the pressure head 52. The illustrated wedge is bifurcated to provide clearance for the shaft 66, and the cross head 64 has formed therein inclined surfaces 116, one on each side of the shaft as providing bearings for the inclined surfaces of the wedge. The operation of the piston 1 causes the wedge in each station to move toewardly of the shoe therein, thus applying downward pressure to the toe pads and the magnets. The shoes are thus clamped between the toe pads and heel clamps and the side mold members on which they are supported. It will be understood that the organization above described permits the wedge in one station to move farther than the wedge in the other station if necessary to compensate for diiferences in shoe heights, the cylinder $.12 being free to move bodily in a horizontal direction to equalize the pressure exerted against the Wedges. The connections between the piston and cylinder assembly and the pressure applying wedges are illustrated in FIG. 2. The pressure head $2 has secured thereto a flat angle plate 113 having an extension 12% which provides a fulcrum for a bell crank lever 122 which is pivotally connected at 7.24 to the piston rod 126. A flat angle plate 123 similar to the plate is secured to the pressure head in the left station of the machine. The plate 128 has an extension 13%) which provides a fulcrum for a bell crank lever 132 pivotally connected at 134 to an extension 136 of the head 133 of the cylinder 12. The bell crank lever 122 has a depending pin 14-h (FIG. 3) which operates in a transverse slot 142 in the right end portion of the wedge 1% and a similar connection is provided between and are and 196 the bell crank lever 132 and the wedge in the left station of the machine. For moving the piston 11% to the left as seen in FIG. 2, two springs 144- and 146 (FIG. 3) are provided. The two springs are, respectively, anchored at opposite ends of a vertical shaft 1- 58 providing the pivotal connection between the piston rod and the bell crank lever 122. At their opposite ends these springs are anchored to a similar vertical shaft providing the pivotal connection between the bell crank lever i232 and the extension 136. In the operation of the illustrated machine a valve 152 (FIG. 1) is automatically actuated upon the completion of the downward movement of the pressure heads to cause the cylinder 12 to be pressurized, thereby'operating the bell crank levers and i321 and advancing the wedges in the respective stations toewardly to apply downward pres-f sure to the toe pad 74 and the magnet 76 and to the corresponding toe pad and magnet in the left station of the machine. Inasmuch as the piston and cylinder are free to move with the two bell crank levers it will be understood that equal pressure is applied to the toe pad and the magnet in each station of the machine regardless of ditferences in the vertical dimensions of the shoes in the two stations. The valve 152 is operated by the piston 62 through mechanism now to be described. The piston 62 has a downwardly extending rod 154 which carries at its lower end a head 156 on which are pivotally mounted a pair of toggle links 158 and 160. At their outer ends the toggle links are pivotally connected to hell crank levers 162 which in turn are connected by links 164 to a cross head 168 secured to the lower portions of the shafts 54 and the corresponding shafts in the left station of the machine. The downward movement of the pressure heads is completed just prior to the completion of the toggle operation. The slight movement of the toggle links after the completion of tr e downward movement of the pressure heads causes one of the toggle links to engage an arm 170 of the mechanism of the valve 152, thus camming the arm 170 forwardly to open the valve, thereby to pressurize the cylinder 112 and operate the wedges to cause the application of pressure to the shoes in the two stations of the machine.

Upon the completion of the sole molding operation the side mold members and 12 move away from each other into their open position and the bottom mold 14 moves downwardly into its retracted position. During this stage in the machine operation the shoe is held in its position illustrated in FIG. 3 by the magnet 76, and consequently, the shoe moves with the work support during its movement into the loading station by the operation of the piston 62. During the first stage of this operation of the piston the toggle links 158 and 160 move out of engagement with the arm 70 whereupon the valve 152 is closed and the springs 144 and 146 move the piston 110 to the left as seen in FIG. 2 to withdraw the wedge 108 and the corresponding wedge in the left station of the machine preparatory to another sole molding operation.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A two station machine for bottoming shoes mounted on their lasts having in each station a pressure means comprising a toe presser foot and a heel presser foot constructed and arranged to apply clamping pressure to a shoe and its last, respectively, a carrier in each station for the pressure means therein, a pressure head in each station for mounting the carrier, parallel shafts in each station for mounting the pressure head therein, a crosshead common to the two stations of the machine, means for securing the shafts in each station to the common crosshead, a first piston and cylinder assembly for actuating the crosshead thereby to advance the pressure means in each station in unison to a predetermined intermediate position in which the pressure means in each station is spaced from but adjacent to a shoe and its last mounted in the machine, means for arresting the pressure heads in said intermediate position, a wedge in each station interposed between the pressure head and the carrier and arranged to advance the pressure means from said intermediate position to a pressure applying position, a lever in each station mounted in the pressure head and arranged to operate the wedge, and a second piston and cylinder assembly positioned between the two stations of the machine and having the second cylinder connected to the lever in one station and the second piston connected to the lever in the other station, the arrangement being such that pressurizing the second cylinder causes concomitant operation of the Wedges thereby to apply uniform clamping pressure to the pressure means in each station of the machine.

2. A machine according to claim 1 in which the mounting of the second piston and cylinder assembly is such that both the second piston and the second cylinder are freely movable in response to the pressurizing of the second cylinder thereby to cause the equalizing of the clamping pressures applied to the shoes in the two stations of the machine.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 138,967

Warren May 13, 1873 607,370 Heys July 12, 1898 2,204,151 Rodefer et a1. June 11, 1940 2,301,205 Finn Nov. 10, 1942 2,397,843 Dawson et a1. Apr. 2, 1946 2,422,390 Brauner June 17, 1947 2,442,167 Griflith May 25, 1948 2,594,728 Campione Apr. 29, 1952 2,711,558 Baker et al. June 28, 1955 2,770,823 Kamborian Nov. 20, 1956 2,828,496 Kamborian Apr. 1, 1958 2,874,392 Campione Feb. 24, 1959 2,922,191 Barton June 26, 1960 3,058,152 Eldred et al. Oct. 16, 1962 

1. A TWO STATION MACHINE FOR BOTTOMING SHOES MOUNTED ON THEIR LASTS HAVING IN EACH STATION A PRESSURE MEANS COMPRISING A TOE PRESSER FOOT AND A HEEL PRESSER FOOT CONSTRUCTED AND ARRANGED TO APPLY CLAMPING PRESSURE TO A SHOE AND ITS LAST, RESPECTIVELY, A CARRIER IN EACH STATION FOR THE PRESSURE MEANS THEREIN, A PRESSURE HEAD IN EACH STATION FOR MOUNTING THE CARRIER, PARALLEL SHAFTS IN EACH STATION FOR MOUNTING THE PRESSURE HEAD THEREIN, A CROSSHEAD COMMON TO THE TWO STATIONS OF THE MACHINE, MEANS FOR SECURING THE SHAFTS IN EACH STATION TO THE COMMON CROSSHEAD, A FIRST PISTON AND CYLINDER ASSEMBLY FOR ACTUATING THE CROSSHEAD THEREBY TO ADVANCE THE PRESSURE MEANS IN EACH STATION IN UNISON TO A PREDETERMINED INTERMEDIATE POSITION IN WHICH THE PRESSURE MEANS IN EACH STATION IS SPACED FROM BUT ADJACENT TO A SHOE AND ITS LAST MOUNTED IN THE MACHINE, MEANS FOR ARRESTING THE PRESSURE HEADS IN SAID INTERMEDIATE POSITION, A WEDGE IN EACH STATION INTERPOSED BETWEEN THE PRESSURE HEAD AND THE CARRIER AND ARRANGED TO ADVANCE THE PRESSURE MEANS FROM SAID INTERMEDIATE POSITION TO 